Liquid-measuring dispenser



Oct. 7, 1947.

Fla. 1. 53

1 w. T. MA'THIS 2,428,577

LIQUID-MEASURING DISPENSER Filed Sept. 6, 1945 T |C1.Z. FIGB,

I 23 33 as as a m 3 '33 3- ggi lillz as 36 a? I as i 58 38 I i INVENTORWADDY T. MATHIS ATTORNEYS:

Patented Oct. 7, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LIQUID-MEASURING DISPENSER Waddy T. Mathis, Hamden, Conn.

Application September 6, 1945., SerialNo; 614,"793

'5 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to improvements in liquid dispensers andrelates more particularly to dispensers which also serve to accuratelymeasure the liquid to be dispensed.

fI-he liquid-measuring dispensers of the present invention are primarilydesigned for the use of chemists in lieu of usual pipettes, thoughavailable for other uses, as will be apparent to those skilled in theart from the following;

Gne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a superiorliquid-measuring dispenser which combines convenience and accuracy inuse with low cost of manufacture;

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dispenser of thecharacterreferredto which has a superior construction an'diarrangementof parts whereby the amount'of liquid'dispensedmay be readily andconveniently ad.- justed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a superiorliquid-measuring dispenser which may be readily and conveniently takenapart for cleansing or repairs and which also may be similarlyreassembled.

Still another object is to provide a superior dispenser of the characterreferred to, which may be manipulated with great rapidity to accuratelydischarge measured amounts of liquids.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to thoseskilled in the art from the present disclosure, this invention includesall features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of carrying out thepresent invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. 1 is a View in side elevation of one form of liquid-measuringdispenser embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a View thereof viewing the dispenser from a right angle to theshowing of' Fig. 1

Fig. 3 is a view in central-longitudinal section taken'on the line 3-3of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view -of"one.-=of the two correspondingbody-members, detached;

Fig. 5 is a broken view in side elevation of: the upper portion of thedispenser, but shown on a larger scale; and

Fig; 6 is a perspective view of the measuring- 1 2 reference charactersIil and II and each having flat inner face which is adapted to abutagainst thesimil ar face o'f'the complemental body-member, to provide acomplete body.

Each of the said body-members l9 and H- includes asubstantially-hemispherical intermedi ate-portion 1 2 from whichintegrally depends a slightly-tapering shank-portion i3. Each of thesaid body-members is also formed with a neckportion I' lwhich is formedintegral with and extends upwardly from the intermediate-portion i2.

The hemispherical intermediate-portion I2 of each of thebody-members H3and H is hollowto provide a subs-tantially-hemispherical bulbsocket l 5-which; when the two body-members are assembled, provides in conjunctionwith the similar bulb-socket in the other body-member, asubstantially-spherical space for the accommodation of a bulb [6 formedof rubber or other suitable material. The upper part of thehemispherical interrnediate-portion [2" of each-of the body-members- H1and ii is cut away in part to thus leave a pair of curved arms il-ilwhich serve -t'ointegrally interconnect the aforesaid neck-portion Mwith the remainder ofthe bodymember as is especially well shown in Fig.4.

Theneck-portion llofea'ch of the body-members 10' and "H isformed with avertical guidegroove 48 ofsemicircular form in cross section whichcomplements the similar guide-groove in the other neck-portion to form acylindrical guide-passage for the stem it of a dispensingplunger ordispensing-member generally designated by the reference character 20.Theste-m F9 is provided at its lower end with a relativelythin disk-likehead 2i adapted to rest upon the upper surface of the bulb i'fi; forpurposes as will hereinafter'appear.

At its threaded upper end the stem $9 of the dispensing plunger 20- hasmounted thereon a lock-nut 22 and a stop-nut 23 located below the 'saidlock-nut.

In the upper portion of its shank-portion 13; each of the body-membersiii and ii is formed with a socket 24 of semicircular form in crosssection and which, in conjunction with the similar's'ocket 24 of theother body-member, is adapted to accommodate a tubular neck zfiformingan integral dependingextension of the bulb 1'6.

The lower portion of the shank-portion l3 of each of the body-members Itand H, is formed with a downwardlywpening socket 26 which is of"semicircular form in cross section and provides. when the twobody-members are assembled: face to face, a cylindrical-socket for theaccommodation of a tubular coupling 21 which is preferably formed ofsoft rubber or the like.

As shown, the socket 25 has a larger diameter than the. socket 23 and isseparated therefrom by a locating-rib 28, as is especially well shown inFig. 4. Extending past the locating-rib 2B and into both the coupling 21and the neck 25 of the bulb I6 is a connecting-tube 29.

Fitting into the lower end of the resilient coupling 21 is the upper endof a tube 30 which 'may be formed of glass or other suitablechemicalresisting material and which is formed at its lower end with acontracted tubular terminal 3|, through which latter fluid may be drawninto the tube or expelled therefrom, in a manner as will hereinafterappear.

For the purpose of holding the two complemental body-members l and II inassembled face-to-face relationship as illustrated in the drawings, acollar 32 and a measuring-sleeve or measuring member 33 are employed.The said collar 32 has a slightly tapering interior and is slipped overthe respectivetapered lower ends of the shank-portions 13-43 of the saidbody-members. The measuring-sleeve 33 is slipped over the juxtaposedneck-portions l4l4 of the bodymembers I0 and H with capacity for bothrotational movement and axial movement thereon.

Preferably and as shown, the measuring-sleeve 33 is rolled up from sheetmaterial and is cut away on one side to provide a series of four (moreor less) downwardly-facing stepped abutments respectively designated bythe reference charac-,

ters 34, 35, 36 and 37 and each of which is adapted to rest upon anabutment-lug 38 projecting radially outwardly from the neck-portion Idof the body-member ill. The said abutments 34, 35, 36 and 31 are, in theorder named, more remotely located with respect to the inner edge of themeasuring-sleeve 33. 7

V In a manner as will hereinafter appear, the dispensing-plunger 2!)will be depressed to expel liquid from the device in measuredquantities. For purposes of providing convenient means for shifting fromone quantity to another quantity of liquid to be dispensed, the stop-nut23 may be so set that when the measuring-sleeve 33 has,

its extreme lower edge resting upon the abutment-lug 38, the under faceof the said stop-nut will be in engagement with the upper edge of thesaid measuring-sleeve. The said stop-nut'23 may then be locked in theposition referred. to by tightening the lock-nut 22 against it. Underthese conditions, it will not be possible to depress the plunger 20 toexpel liquid from the terminal 3| of the tube 30. 7

Now let it be assumed that it is desired to dispense 0.1 c. c. of aliquid. Under these conditions, the measuring-sleeve 33 will be shiftedso that its lowermost abutment 34 is resting upon the abutment-lug 38.It is also to be assumed that the size of the bulb [6 is in the giveninstance, such as to eject the desired volume of I liquid.

The dispensing-plunger 20 may be depressed to partially deflate the bulbl6 and preferably the. user may also further deflate the said bulb byapplying finger pressure to the surface thereof through one or more ofthe cut-away upper'parts of the hemispherical portions l'2l2, followingwhich the terminal 32 may be dipped into the desired liquid. Now uponreleasing the, deflating pressure upon the bulb Hi, the same will draw 3into the tube 3!] an amount of liquidslightly in excess of the desired0.1 c. c. The. terminal 31 may now be removed from the liquid, followingwhich the dispensing-plunger 20 may be depressed until its downwardmovement is checked by the engagement of the under face of the stopnut23 with the upper edge of the measuringsleeve 33 to thus eject thedesired 0.1 c. c. of liquid but still leaving a surplus of liquid in thetube 33. It is preferred to charge the tube 30 or its equivalent with agreater amount'of liquid than it is desired to eject, for the reasonthat this procedure eliminates drainage-error.

Should it be desired, for instance, to dispense 0.5 c. c. of a liquid,the measuring-sleeve 33 may be shifted so that its abutment 35 restsupon the abutment-lug 38, whereupon the procedure above described may berepeated to effect the accurate discharge of 0.5 c. c. of liquid,assuming, of course,fthat the parts are proportioned and designed todispense the specific amount of liquid referred to, when themeasuring-sleeve is adjusted as just referred to.

lug 36, and here again, the procedure previously referred to may berepeated.

The values above given for the various positions of the measuring-sleeve33 are, of course, merely illustrative, but serve to demonstrate thefacility with which the dispensing capacity of the device may be varied.

Should it be desired to secure any other values than the fixed valuesafforded'by the various abutments 34, 33, 33 and 37 ofthemeasuringsleeve, the stop-nut 23 may be adjusted on the stem I9 ofthe dispensing-plunger 20 and locked in any desired position by means ofthe lock-nut 22. Thus, by means of the adjustment afforded by thestop-nut 23 or its equivalent, substantially any value intermediate themaximum and minimum may be arrived at.

The invention maybe carried out in other spe! cific ways than thoseherein set forth without departing from the spirit and essentialcharacteristics of the invention, and the present embodiments are;therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes comingwithin the meaning and equivalencyrange of the appended claims are'intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A liquid-measuring dispenser, including in combination: an expansibleand contractible hollow member for drawing fluid into and expellingfluid froman extension; a tubular extension projecting' from the saidhollow member; an advanceable and retirable dispensing-member positionedto compress the said hollow member during its movement with respect tothe hereinaftermentioned measuring-member; guide-means associatedwiththe said hollowmember; an abutment adjacent to said guide-means; and anormally stationary adjustable measuring-member guided by the aforesaidguide-means and having a plurality of abutments selectivelyengageablewiththe said abutment adjacent to the saidgui de-means, the

said measuring-member having a portion positioned to be engaged by aportion of the said movable dispensing-member to limit the movementthereof to an amount dependent upon which of the plurality of abutmentsof the measuringmember is engaged with the abutment adjacent to saidguide-means.

2. A liquid-measuring dispenser, including in combination: a resilienthollow bulb for drawin fluid into and expelling fluid from an extension;a tubular extension projecting from the said bulb; guide-meansassociated with said bulb; an advanceable and retirabledispensing-member positioned to compress the said bulb during itsmovement with respect to the hereinafter-mentioned measuring-member; anabutment adjacent the said guide-means; and a normally stationaryadjustable measuring-member guided by the aforesaid guide-means andhaving a plurality of abutments selectively engageable With the saidabutment adjacent to the said guidemeans, the said measuring-memberhaving a portion positioned to be engaged by a portion of the saidmovable dispensing-member to limit the movement of the latter to anamount dependent upon which of the plurality of abutments of themeasuring-member is engaged with the abutment adjacent to saidguide-means.

3. A liquid-measuring dispenser, including in combination: a body havinga bulb-holding portion and a guide-portion; a resilient hollow bulb heldby the bulb-holding portion of the said body; a tubular extensionprojecting from the said bulb; a dispensing-plunger guided by theguide-portion of the said body and engageable with the said bulb tocompress the same during its movement with respect to thehereinafter-mentioned measuring-sleeve; an abutment adjacent theguideportion of the said body; and a normally stationary adjustablemeasuring-sleeve mounted upon the guide-portion of the said body withcapacity for both turning movement and axial movement thereon, the saidmeasuring-sleeve having a plurality of abutments selectively engageablewith the abutment adjacent the said guide-portion of the body, the saidmeasuring-sleeve also having a portion positioned to be engaged by aportion of the said dispensing-plunger to limit the movement of thelatter to an amount dependent upon which of the plurality of abutmentsof the said measuring-sleeve is engaged with the abutment adjacent theguide-portion of the said body.

4. A liquid-measuring dispenser, including in combination: a body havinga bulb-holding portion and a guide-portion projecting therefrom; aresilient bulb held by the bulb-holding portion of the said body; atubular extension projecting from the said bulb; a dispensing-plungerextending substantially axially through the guide-portion of the saidbody and having adjacent one end, a portion engageable with the saidbulb to compress the same during its movement with respect I to thehereinafter-mentioned measuring-sleeve and having stop-means adjacentits opposite end in position for engagement with thehereinaftermentioned measuring-sleeve; an abutment carried by theguide-portion of the said body; and a normally-stationary adjustablemeasuring-sleeve mounted upon the projecting guide-portion of the saidbody with capacity for both turning movement and axial movement thereon,the said measuring-sleeve having a plurality of abutments selectivelyengageable with the abutment on the said guide-portion of the body, thesaid measuring-sleeve also having a portion positioned to be engaged bythe stop-means of the said dispensing-plunger to limit the movement ofthe latter to an amount dependent upon which of the plurality ofabutments of the said measuringsleeve is engaged with the abutmentcarried by the projecting guide-portion of the said body.

5. A liquid-measuring dispenser, including in combination: a body havinga bulb-holding portion and a guide-portion projecting therefrom; aresilient bulb held by the bulb-holding portion of the said body; atubular extension projecting from the said bulb; a dispensing-plungerextending substantially axially through the guide-portion of the saidbody and having adjacent one end a portion engageable with the said bulbto compress the same during its movement with respect to thehereinafter-mentioned measuring-sleeve and having an adjustable stop-nutadjacent its opposite end in position for engagement with thehereinafter-mentioned measuring-sleeve; an abutment projecting laterallyfrom the guideportion of the said body; and a normally stationaryadjustable measuring-sleeve mounted upon the projecting guide-portion ofthe said body with capacity for both turning movement and axial movementthereon, the said measuringsleeve having a plurality of abutmentsdisplaced with respect to each other in a direction axially of themeasuring-sleeve and selectively engageable with the abutment projectingfrom the said guide-portion of the body, the said measuringsleeve alsohaving a portion positioned to be engaged by the stop-nut on the saiddispensingplunger to limit the movement of the latter to an amountdependent upon which of the plurality of abutments of the saidmeasuring-sleeve is engaged with the abutment projecting from theguide-portion of the said body.

WADDY T. MATHIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 531,133 Pomeroy Dec. 18, 18942,339,870 Mathis Jan. 25, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date622,853 France March, 1927

